Selangor building under siege

Source : The Star



SHAH ALAM: Groups of PKR and PAS supporters are holding a round-the-clock watch at the three entrances to the Selangor State Secretariat building here.

Several of them said they were there because they feared that the members of the previous administration might try to remove important documents.

People started gathering at 11pm on Saturday after it became increasingly clear that the Opposition had secured a majority of seats.

PKR took 15 seats while DAP and PAS won 13 and eight seats respectively. Barisan Nasional won 20 seats.

The Opposition took 17 of the state's parliamentary seats while Barisan won five.

Selangor PAS deputy commissioner Khalid Abdul Samad, who won the Shah Alam parliamentary seat, said supporters were feeling edgy because there was an air of uncertainty.

“They are suspicious of the cars and what they were doing at SUK in the dead of night. There is fear that files containing state information, particularly those relating to finance and projects, may be taken out,” he said.

Khalid went to state secretariat yesterday morning to tell the supporters to be calm and not to provoke anyone. He also asked those not on watch-duty to disperse.

It is learnt that groups of opposition supporters also blocked the entrance to the Mentri Besar’s residence in Section 7 here on Saturday night because they feared that outgoing Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo would cart away files from the residence.

Khalid said opposition leaders have told their supporters to let Dr Khir and his family pack and leave the residence.

It is believed that the supporters were even considering blocking the entry to the Selangor Sultan’s palace, fearing that Dr Khir would want to meet the Sultan and seek to be sworn in as the Mentri Besar but left when told it was impossible for Dr Khir to be sworn in.

A source from the Mentri Besar’s residence said Dr Khir and his family packed up and left in the early hours of Sunday.

It is understood that the Selangor Sultan had urged both sides to remain calm and that Dr Khir should be allowed to leave the residence in peace.

“The Sultan also advised that the state secretariat be sealed off until the new state government is formed,” said a source.

The Federal Reserve Unit personnel were subsequently deployed at the state secretariat.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said no one other than the state secretary, his deputy or appointed officials were allowed to enter.